Draft and burner regulator for steam boilers



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. HUTTERER DRAFT AND BURNER REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed April 24, 1940 July 7, 1942.

muulpuunlll|ll lii July 7,' 1942. s. HUTTERER' DRAFT AND BURNER REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed April 24; 1940,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR S/MON HUTTEPFE d qITTQRN Y Patented July 7, 1942 UNHTED DRAFT AND BURNER REGULATOR FOR STEAM BOILERS Simon Hutterer, New York, N. Y., assignor t IrvingHatterer, New York, N. Y.

Application April 24, 1940, Serial No. 331,360

Claims.

This invention relates to draft and burner regulator for steam boilers.

There are on the market at the present time draft regulators which consists of a vane closing an opening in the flue, and pivoted thereto to rotate freely under the influence of vacuum conditions within the flue. When such a draft regulator is used, an increase in the draft produces a vacuum in the flue, permitting air to swing the vane open, thus increasing the air pressure within the flue and reducing the draft. Such a pivoted vane is usually provided with a counter-balancing weight so arranged that the further the vane opens, the greater the tendency of the weight to urge the vane to close.

With prior constructions, a fine adjustment of the position of the counter-balancing weight has not been possible, and furthermore, the pivoted vanes in such prior constructions were formed with openings through which the smoke often passed into the boiler room, and furthermore, the counterbalancing weights exposed to the heat of gases within the flue often burnt away. It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a highly improved regulator having a counter-balancing weight which is hermetically sealed and has micrometer adjustment to regulate the position of the weight, and which is furthermore rustproof and foolproof, the vane furthermore being imperforate so that no smoke can get through to the boiler room when the vane is closed.

A further difliculty with prior constructions of the type described above, is the practice of wedging the vane shut when the boiler is cold, such wedges often being forgotten, thus rendering the draft regulator entirely inoperative. Furthermore, with such prior draft regulators, as the vane opened up when the boiler was hot, it would almost immediately begin to close under the influence of the counter-balancing weight and vacuum conditions in the flue, failing to sustain the draft reducing effect. The valve would be oscillating because flue draft is never even for any length of time.

It is therefore another object of this invention to provide thermostatic means dependent upon the temperature of the condensate returning to the boiler from the radiators etc., to hold the vane closed when the condensate is cold, and to retain the vane in open position when the condensate is hot, permitting the vane to freely rotate to regulate the draft in the furnace, in the zone between predetermined low and high 'Cil temperatures, means being further provided to adjust or vary the temperatures at which the vane is held open and held closed.

Heretofore, oil burners for boilers have been controlled by thermostatic controls stationed either within aroom of the house or in the boiler, or on the outside of the house, and in each case, difficulty has been experienced because of varying temperature conditions in the different rooms of the house, and because the temperatures in the various rooms did not always correspond to temperature conditions in the boiler or outside of the house. It is therefore a still further object ofthis invention to reg-ulate the oil burner for a boiler dependent upon the' condensate returning from radiators in all of the rooms and located adjacent the boiler, the control of the oil burner being through a rheostat controlling the motor for the oil burner or through the control of the oil feed line for the oil burner.

Still another object of this invention is to provide adraft regulator of the character described comprising a ring, the opening of which is closed by a pivoted vane, and means for attaching the ring to the flue in various angular adjusted positions, thereby controlling the effect of the counter-balancing weight on the vane.

Yet another object of this invention is, to provide a str0ng,,rugged and durable draft regulator and oil burner control of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, comprise few and simple parts, which shall be smooth and positive in operation, and yet practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and ofwhich the scope'ofapplication will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a boiler and oil burner provided with a draft regulator and oil burner control embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional View of the thermostatic control;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, front, elevational view of the draft regulator;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 71 of Fig. 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I0 designates a boiler provided with a steam pipe 16 and with a return pipe l1 for the condensate from the various radiators etc.

In the drawings, 20 represents the stack, and 2| a fiue or pipe interconnecting the exhaust end of the boiler furnace with the stack.

Fixed to the stack 2| is a short branch pipe 22 formed with an annular depressed groove 23 adjacent the open end 24 thereof. Mounted on the pipe 22 is a draft regulator 25. The same comprises an annular ring 26 receiving the open end of pipe 22. The ring 26 is formed with an internal shoulder 28 contacting the front end of the pipe and is formed with an inwardly extending flange 29, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Onthe ring are a plurality of set screws extending into the groove portion 23 of pipe 22. It will now be understood that the ring may be rotated about its axis to adjust the angular position of said ring on the pipe 22, and the set screws may be tightened to fix the ring in adjusted position.

The ring 26 is formed with a pair of horizontally aligned bearing openings 34 located above the center of the ring. Within the ring is a vane 35 adapted to close the opening within the ring. On the vane 35. are a pair of oppositely extending pivot pins or axles 35 journalled within the bearing openings 34 to pivotally mount the vane. The vane 35 is formed with an opening 38 aligned with the axles 35 and disposed medially therebetween. Extending through the opening 38, and fixed to the vane 35, is an external screw threaded member 40 contacting the rear or inner surface of the vane. Member 43 is formed with an axial internally screw threaded through opening 4|. Screwed onto member 40 is a metal cup 42. Extending through the screw threaded opening 4!, is a screw threaded stem 43, to the front end of which is fixed a handle 44. Fixed to the rear end of the stem 43, is an annular weighted member 45, telescoping within the cup shaped member 42.

It will now be understood that upon turning handle 44, the Weight 45 will move axially of the cup 42. Weight 45 serves as a counter-balance for the vane and may be micromatically adjusted to various positions by turning the handle.

It will now be understood that when the fire in the boiler burns too hot and the draft is too great, a vacuum is produced in pipe 2| causing the atmospheric pressure outside of the pipe to swing the vane in a counter-clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 4 of the drawings, to open the draft regulator.

When the vane opens, the pressure within pipe 2| is increased, balancing the pressure on opposite sides of the vane, causing the vane to again move towards closing position under infiuence of the counter-balancing Weight. It will be noted that a micrometer adjustment may be obtained for the counter-balancing weight. Furthermore, there are no openings in the vane through which smoke may pass to the boiler room when the vane is closed. The counter-balancing weight 45 is furthermore enclosed in the cup 42 and is rustproof and foolproof It is sometimes the practice to wedge the vane shut when the boiler is cold, and sometimes the wedge is forgotten, and the regulator is inoperative. Means is therefore provided to keep the vane closed while the condensate returning to the boiler is cold, or below a predetermined temperature, to permit the vane to operate freely under draft conditions in the boiler when the temperature of the condensate gets above said predetermined temperature, and also to keep the vane open when the temperature of the condensate goes above another higher predetermined temperature, to obtain a sustaining draft reducing effect.

To this end, ring 25 is formed with an integral vertical plate 46 extending to one side of the ring. Fixed to the plate 46 are a pair of vertically aligned, horizontal pins 48 formed with aligned vertical openings 43a. Slidably mounted within the openings 48a. is a vertical rod 481) having a yoke portion 480.

Fixed to the Vane 35 is an ofiset bracket 49. Said bracket 49 has an arm 49a fixed to the vane 35 and disposed in alignment with the axles 3B. Said bracket also has an outwardly extending arm 4% offset from the plane of the vane 35 passing through the yoke 480, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

The condensate pipe I! is provided with a valve 58. Around the valve 50 is a by-pass 5| comprising a pipe 52 connected to condensate pipe I! on one side of said valve, a chamber 53 connected to the pipe 52, and a pipe 54 interconnecting said chamber with condensate pipe on the other side of said valve.

Within chamber 53 is a metal bellows type thermostat unit or Sylphon thermostat 55 provided with a member 56 at its upper end adapted to be moved upwardly as the temperature in the chamber 53 rises. Fixed to the chamber 53 is a bracket 51, to which is pivoted a lever 58. At one end of the lever 58 is an adjustable weight 59. The other end of the lever 58 is connected to the lower end of rod 481) by a turnbuckle 60.

Fixed to valve 50 is a scale 6| marked with temperature readings and adapted to be read against the position of the handle 62 of said valve.

The operation of the structure for controlling the vane 35 will now be described:

The condensate passes down through the pipe I! back to the boiler. Upon partially closing the valve 53, some of the condensate passes through the by-pass 5| and hence circulates within the chamber 53' heating the thermostatic unit 55 and pivoting the lever 58 about its pivotal point in a clockwise direction, looking at Fig. l of the drawings. When the boiler is cold, the thermostat 55 is down, and the rod 4% is up, as shown in the full line position of Fig. 4. In such position, the bottom end of the yoke 480 contacts the arm 49b of bracket 49 and holds the vane in closed position.

It will be noted that the temperature in chamber 53 is not the same as the temperature in the pipe I1, and by regulating the valve 50, the lag between the temperature in the chamber and in the condensate pipe may be regulated. The scale 6| may be appropriately marked to give the position of the handle 52 of the valve 50.

By regulating the valve 50, the temperature at which the rod 48b will move down sufiiciently to permit movement of the vane may be adjusted.

As the temperature of the condensate I! increases, the temperature in the chamber 53 likewise increasesd epending upon the regulation of the valve 59 and the thermostatic unit 55 expands to move rod 482) downwardly when the temperature in chamber 53 rises abovea predetermined temperature, rod 4% is pulled down sufficiently, to permit normal operation of the vane 35 to regulate the draft in the flue. However, when the temperature in chamber 53 rises above another higher predetermined temperature, the rod is all the way down and the upper end of the yoke contacts the arm 4% of bracket 49 to keep the vane open.

Thus, there is a middle zone during which the vane is free to operate within limits depending upon the position of rod 48b.

The ring 26 may be rotated about its axis and fixed in any desired angular position to further adjust the operation of the vane 35 under the influence of the draft in the flue.

It will be understood that the draft regulator is applicable to furnaces using coal as a fuel, as well as oil or gas.

For the purpose of illustration, the drawings show the boiler H) to be provided with an oil burner ll. Said oil burner has an oil inlet pipe 12, and attached to the oil burner is a conduit l3 for wires leading to the terminals of the oil burner motor. The conduit extends to a rheostat I4 fixed to the chamber 53 and adapted to control the operation of the motor for the oil burner.

Means is further provided to regulate and control the operation of the oil burner ll dependent upon the temperature in the condensate pipe I1. To this end, plate 46 has a pivot pin 41, to which is pivoted a lever 4111. On one end of the lever Ha is an adjustable counter-balancing weight 47b. The other end of the lever 41a is pivoted to the lower end of rod 481) by a pin and slot connection Md. The first end of the lever 41a is connected by a connecting rod NJ to the controlling arm ll of the rheostat l4. When the temperature of the condensate rises, the lever 41a. swings about its pivot 41 in a counter-clockwise direction, pulling down the control arm H of the rheostat, to control the operation of the motor.

If desired, lever 41a may be connected in any suitable manner to a control valve in the oil supply I2 for the oil burner, instead of to the rheostat, the arrangement being such that as the temperature of the condensate in chamber 53 rises, the fuel supply is cut down.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination with a flue of a boiler and a condensate pipe to return condensate to said boiler, said flue having an opening, a pivoted vane adapted to close said opening, a valve in said condensate pipe, a by-pass around said valve, a chamber in said bypass, a thermostatic unit in said chamber, and means controlled by said thermostatic unit to keep said vane closed, when the temperature in said chamber is below a pre- "determined value, and to 'hold' said vane fully open when the temperature in said' chamber is above another higher predetermined value.

2. In combination with the flue of. a boiler, said flue having an opening, a vane within said opening and adapted to close the opening, said vane being pivoted about an axis offset from the center of said vane, an oifset bracket attached to saidlvane, a member havinga. lost motion connection with said bracket and adapted to hold the vane closed in one position of said member and the vane open in another position of said member, and to permit said vane to pivot about its axis in another position of said member, and thermostatic means dependent upon the temper ature of condensate returning to'the boiler to control the position of said member.

3. In combination with a boiler and a fuel oil burner therefor, a flue connected to said boiler to receive the exhaust gases from the furnace chamber, anda condensate pipe to return condensate to said boiler, said flue having an opening, a vane pivoted to said opening and provided with a counter-balancing weight, and adapted to regulate the draft for said boiler, means dependent upon the temperature of the condensate in the condensate pipe, to hold the vane closed when the temperature in the condensate is below a predetermined temperature, and to hold the vane open when the temperature of the condensate in the pipe is above another higher predetermined temperature, and to permit the vane to rotate when the temperature of the condensate is between said predetermined temperatures, and means dependent upon the temperature of said condensate to control the operation of said fuel burner.

4. In combination with a boiler, a flue connected to the boiler and adapted to receive the gases from the furnace chamber, an opening in said flue, a vane pivoted within said opening about an axis offset from the center of said vane, a bracket fixed to said vane and having an offset arm, a member having a lost motion connection with said arm, a pipe to return condensate to the boiler, a valve in said pipe, a by-pass on said pipe and around said valve, a chamber in said bypass, a thermostatic unit in said chamber, and means controlled by said thermostatic unit to move said member.

5. In combination with a boiler, a flue connected to the boiler and adapted to receive the gases from the furnace chamber, an opening in said flue, a vane pivoted within said opening about an axis offset from the center of said vane, a bracket fixed to said vane and having an ofiset arm, a member having a lost motion connection with said arm, a pipe to return condensate to the boiler, a valve in said pipe, a by-pass on said pipe and around said valve, a chamber in said by-pass, a thermostatic unit in said chamber, means controlled by said thermostatic unit to move said member, an oil burner for said boiler, and means controlled by said thermostatic unit to regulate the operation of said oil burner.

6. In combination with a flue having a pipe extending therefrom, a ring fixed to the open end of the pipe, a vane pivoted within said ring, a counter-balancing weight attached to said vane, an offset bracket on said vane, said ring being formed with a Wall, a rod slidably mounted on said wall and having a lost motion connection with said bracket, a condensate pipe provided with a valve, a by-pass on said pipe and around said valve, a chamber in said by-pass, a thermostatic unit within said chamber, a lever pivoted on said chamber and adapted to be rotated by said thermostatic unit, and means to connect said lever to said member.

'7. In combination with a flue having a pipe extending therefrom, a ring fixed to the open end of the pipe, a vane pivoted within said ring, a counter-balancing weight attached to said vane, an oifset bracket on said vane, said ring being formed with a wall, a rod slidably mounted on said wall and having a lost motion connection with said bracket, a condensate pipe provided with a valve, a by-pass on said pipe and around said valve, a chamber in said by-pass, a thermostatic unit within said chamber, a lever pivoted on said chamber and adapted to be rotated by said thermostatic unit, means to connect said lever to said member, and a temperature scale adjacent the handle of said valve.

8. In combination with a flue of a boiler and a pipe to return condensate to the boiler, means on said flue to automatically maintain the draft in said flue at a constant value, and means dependent upon the temperature of the condensate in said pipe to control said first means.

9. In combination with a flue of a boiler and a pipe to return condensate to the boiler, means on said flue to automatically maintain the draft in said flue at a constant value, means dependent upon the temperature of the condensate in said pipe to control said first means, and including means to permit normal operation of said first means when the temperature of the condensate in said pipe is between predetermined limits.

10. In combination with a flue of a boiler and a pipe to return condensate to the boiler, means on said flue to automatically maintain the draft in said flue at a constant value, means dependent upon the temperature of the condensate in said pipe to control said first means, including means to permit normal operation of said first means when the temperature of the condensate in said pipe is between predetermined limits, and means to adjust said predetermined limits.

SIMON HUTTERER. 

